When only 24 teams can make the postseason at the NCAA Division I FCS level, some deserving schools are going to get left out.

And whether or not Monmouth University was one of those programs in 2025 could lead to a balanced discussion, but nothing will change the outcome.

The Hawks had their fate in their own hands, but a loss to struggling UAlbany in the final game of the regular season set them up to be heartbroken when the playoff bracket was revealed the following day.

Now, under the guidance of a new head coach, Monmouth will head into the 2026 season seeking redemption, and fans can watch the season unfold live on FloCollege and the FloSports app.

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The Hawks were gliding through their schedule last season, including during Coastal Athletic Association play, as they opened the campaign at 8-1 overall and 5-0 in CAA games.

They seemed destined for the playoffs and potentially their first CAA title, but two losses in their last three games left them short of everything for which they were striving. More on that below.

Monmouth lost to New Hampshire on Nov. 8 (34-13) and closed the year with a 31-24 loss to UAlbany. At the time, the Great Danes were 1-9 overall and 0-7 in conference games. 

A win wouldn’t have guaranteed Monmouth a spot in the playoffs, but it would’ve helped the cause.

Instead, as the CAA sent three or more teams to the FCS Playoffs for the 18th time in 20 years, Monmouth wasn’t one of them. The advancers were CAA champion Rhode Island (8-0 in conference play), Villanova (7-1) and New Hampshire (6-2). 

Monmouth also was 6-2, and 9-3 overall, but the head-to-head loss to UNH likely was the decider.

Villanova has moved on from the CAA, and Monmouth is expected to rebound in 2026. The Hawks were picked by the conference’s coaches to finish second this year behind two-time defending champion Rhode Island.

Before things get too hectic on the field, here are some things to know about Monmouth University football in 2026:

Monmouth Football Gets New Head Coach For 2026

After more than three decades in charge at Monmouth, Kevin Callahan has transitioned to a new role as a special advisor to the athletic department, while his associate head coach, Jeff Gallo, moved seamlessly into the top job.

Callahan had been the only head coach since the inception of the program in 1993. 

Over his 33 seasons at Monmouth, Callahan collected 197 victories and was the winningest active FCS head coach. He led the team to seven championships across two conferences (Northeast and Big South) and three appearances in the playoffs – 2017, 2019 and the spring of 2021.

Gallo lived and breathed Hawks football. He played for Callahan from 2000-2003, earned an undergraduate degree at Monmouth in 2005 and added an MBA there in 2012.

The award-winning defensive standout joined the Monmouth coaching staff in 2005 and climbed the ranks, most recently serving as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. 

Hawks Running Back Rodney Nelson Won CAA’s Top Honor

Monmouth running back Rodney Nelson was named the 2025 CAA Offensive Player of the Year, one of many postseason accolades for the redshirt sophomore standout. He was the fourth consecutive Hawk to win the award.

Nelson was second nationally with 1,802 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, surpassing 100 yards in nine of 12 games and posting three 200-yard performances. 

His 1,802 yards was the second-highest single-season total in Monmouth history and the fifth-most in CAA history. 

He also led the FCS in all-purpose yards (2,031), adding 30 receptions for 229 yards and a score.

Nelson’s success helped him to the Associated Press FCS All-America first team, American Football Coaches Association FCS All-America second team and to the list of finalists for the 2025 FCS Player of the Year award, selected by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

After the season concluded, however, Nelson headed for the Midwest, choose to play the next year of his collegiate career at Miami University in Ohio.

In three years and 27 games at Monmouth, Nelson ran for 2,626 yards on 433 carries and scored 24 times. He added 382 receiving yards and another touchdown. He even spent a little time on defense, collecting four career tackles – all solo. 

Monmouth Finished 2025 Ranked In The Top 25

Despite missing the playoffs in 2025, Monmouth finished the season ranked among the top 25 teams in more than one poll. The team’s nine wins was the most since going 11-3 in 2019.

In the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, the Hawks were ranked No. 20, while playoff-bound CAA foe New Hampshire did not make the top 25, though the Wildcats did receive votes.

The scenario in the last Stats Perform FCS Top 25 saw Monmouth land at No. 22, one spot ahead of UNH.

In both polls, Villanova and Rhode Island were ranked in the top 11. 

How Did The Monmouth Perform Overall In 2025?

Through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season, Monmouth definitely was in the conversation as a contender for the CAA title and a spot in the FCS Playoffs.

One bonus was not having to face front-runner and reigning champion Rhode Island during the regular season.

The Hawks opened the year at 8-1 overall and 5-0 in CAA games, but they got their wings clipped for the final three games of the season.

While there wasn’t anything they could do about URI’s undefeated run to a second consecutive CAA crown and the conference’s automatic berth in the playoffs, the Hawks did control their own destiny as things wound down.

Monmouth scored 35 or more points in eight of its first nine games, with the only loss to that point being a 42-35 battle with FBS opponent Charlotte on Sept. 13. The Hawks scored in every quarter, but they allowed 21 points out of halftime, and that was the difference in the contest.

Heading into the last portion of the campaign, New Hampshire certainly was an even match for the Hawks, and the game was a coinflip, albeit, an important one that potentially had playoff implications, which ended up being the case.

UNH won the contest 34-13, and both teams found themselves in identical situations with two games remaining on the schedule – all conference matchups, with at least one each against a struggling opponent. 

Monmouth rebounded with a 63-19 blowout of North Carolina A&T, and the Wildcats easily handled Bryant, 42-14.

The final week of the season featured a New Hampshire win over Maine in one of the longest-running rivalries in college football, while Monmouth faced a downtrodden UAlbany team in a must-win situation.

On the line for Monmouth was the fifth 10-win season in program history, a 198th career win for Callahan and a chance to reach 200 victories with the team’s first playoff appearance since 2021.

The later wasn’t guaranteed, as the Hawks had missed the postseason in three of their other four 10-win campaigns, but a loss in the very winnable finale was sure to slam the door shut.

The Great Danes prevailed 31-24 and finished their own season at 2-10 and 1-7 in CAA play. Monmouth wound up 9-3 (6-2) and did not hear its name called on Selection Sunday.

The memorable run may have ended sooner than the Hawks wanted, but 12 team members did earn individual honors from the CAA after the season.

2025 CAA Award Winners From Monmouth

• Rodney Nelson, RB, RS-So. – Offensive Player of the Year/First-Team Offense
• Lamont Lester Jr., DE, Fr. – Defensive Rookie of the Year/First-Team Defense
• Josh Derry, WR, Jr. – First-Team Offense
• JT Cornelius, OL, Gr. – First-Team Offense
• *Jaeden Jones, S, So. – First-Team Defense
• Derek Robertson, QB, Gr. – Second-Team Offense
• TJ Speight, WR, Sr. – Second-Team Offense
• Josiah Graham, DL, Jr. – Second-Team Defense
• Chris Moreno, OL, So. – Third-Team Offense
• *Jaeden Jones, SPEC, So. – Third-Team Defense
• Jack Neri, TE, Gr. – Honorable Mention
• Shalik Hubbard, OL, RS-Jr. – Honorable Mention
• Izzy Clark-White, CB, RS-So. – Honorable Mention

*On 2026 roster

2025 Monmouth Football Results

• Aug. 29 (Fri): Monmouth 42, Colgate 39 (W)
• Sept. 6 (Sat): Monmouth 49, Fordham 28 (W)
• Sept. 13 (Sat): Charlotte 42, Monmouth 35 (L)
• Sept. 20 (Sat): Monmouth 51, #12/11 Villanova 33 (W)
• Oct. 4 (Sat): Monmouth 49, Delaware State 38 (W)
• Oct. 11 (Sat): Monmouth 42, Towson 31 (W)
• Oct. 18 (Sat): Monmouth 49, Stony Brook 21 (W)
• Oct. 25 (Sat): Monmouth 28, Hampton 10 (W)
• Nov. 1 (Sat): Monmouth 35, Bryant 7 (W)
• Nov. 8 (Sat): New Hampshire 34, Monmouth 13 (L)
• Nov. 15 (Sat): Monmouth 63, North Carolina A&T 19 (W)
• Nov. 22 (Sat): UAlbany 31, Monmouth 24 (L)

A Look At The CAA And Monmouth Football In 2026

The Monmouth football team had a lot of individual standouts in 2025, and all but one of the 12 All-CAA selections has graduated or transferred.

That leaves junior safety/special teams standout Jaeden Jones to step up and be a leader, while Callahan and Gallo had to go out and replenish the roster.

The early signing period during the first week of December landed 17 recruits, who Callahan believed to be a balance of size, speed and athleticism. 

As the preseason accolades began to roll out, Jones was named a 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason second-team All-American as one of the premier defensive players in the country. Shortly after, he was added to the 2026 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List and was named the CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 

Wide receiver Gavin Nelson and tight end Marcus Middleton also made the preseason All-CAA team, while wide receiver Tra Neal, offensive lineman Kevin Shriner and punter Luke Schabel all received All-CAA honorable mentions. 

As part of the coaching transition from Callahan to Gallo, there were some changes to the coaching staff, too.

Jimmy Robertson was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Louis DiRienzo Jr. was named defensive coordinator and linebackers coach and Kevin Callahan Jr. added general manager (overseeing NIL) to his role as the wide receivers coach.

*Earlier this summer, DiRienzo died unexpectedly. He was 34.

Five other coaches also received new titles or responsibilities, while two more were brought in from outside the program. 

In the preseason CAA poll, voted on by the conference’s head coaches, Monmouth was picked to finish second behind two-time defending conference champion Rhode Island. 

Monmouth Football Schedule For 2026

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 29 (Sat): 7 p.m. at Tennessee Tech
• Sept. 5 (Sat): 2 p.m. vs. Sacred Heart*
• Sept. 12 (Sat): 6:30 p.m. at Western Michigan
• Sept. 19 (Sat): 3:30 p.m. at UAlbany*
• Sept. 26 (Sat): TBA at Dartmouth
• Oct. 3 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Towson*
• Oct. 17 (Sat): 1 p.m. at New Hampshire*
• Oct. 24 (Sat): 2 p.m. at Hampton*
• Oct. 31 (Sat): Noon vs. Bryant*
• Nov. 7 (Sat): Noon vs. North Carolina A&T*
• Nov. 14 (Sat): Noon vs. Merrimack
• Nov. 21 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Campbell*

*CAA games

Predicted Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2026

1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes), 144
2. Monmouth, 119
3. Elon, 115
4. New Hampshire, 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote), 105
6. Towson, 93
7. Maine, 88
8. Campbell, 56
9. Bryant, 50
10. Sacred Heart, 49
11. UAlbany, 35
12. North Carolina A&T, 28
13. Hampton, 26

*Villanova and William & Mary left the CAA for the Patriot League, and Sacred Heart joins the CAA for the 2026 season. 

Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2025

CAA (Overall)

• Rhode Island: 8-0 (11-3)
• Villanova: 7-1 (12-3)
• New Hampshire: 6-2 (8-5)
• Monmouth: 6-2 (9-3)
• William & Mary: 6-2 (7-5)
• Maine: 5-3 (6-6)
• Elon: 4-4 (6-6)
• Stony Brook: 4-4 (6-6)
• Towson: 4-4 (6-6)
• Campbell: 2-6 (2-10)
• North Carolina A&T: 2-6 (2-10)
• Bryant: 1-7 (3-9)
• UAlbany: 1-7 (2-10)
• Hampton: 0-8 (2-10)

Final AFCA Division I FCS Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. Montana St. (14-2)
2. Illinois St. (12-5)
3. Montana (13-2)
4. Villanova (12-3)
5. North Dakota St. (12-1)
6. Tarleton St. (12-2)
7. Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
8. UC Davis (9-4)
9. Lehigh (12-1)
10. Rhode Island (11-3)
11. South Dakota (10-5)
12. ACU (9-5)
13. Yale (9-3)
14. South Dakota St. (9-5)
15. Tennessee Tech (11-2)
16. North Dakota (8-6)
17. Youngstown St. (8-5)
18. Mercer (9-3)
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
20. Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
21. Lamar (8-5)
22. Jackson St. (9-3)
23. Harvard (9-2)
24. West Georgia (8-3)
25. South Carolina St. (10-3)

Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (25)

Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 35; Lafayette, 30; Southern Illinois, 29; Drake, 20; UT Rio Grande Valley, 20; Prairie View A&M, 16; Central Connecticut St., 15; Richmond, 15; Alabama St., 10; Presbyterian, 10; Southern Utah, 5; Austin Peay, 2.

Some Things To Know About FCS Football

The FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) is the second tier of NCAA Division I football, with the top tier being the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision). 

While the FBS determines its national champion through a 12-team, committee-selected College Football Playoff, the FCS Championship includes 24 teams.

The FCS conference champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, and the remaining spots are filled via at-large selection. 

This season, there will be 128 programs across 13 conferences. The regular season will begin in late August, and the playoffs will get underway at the end of November. 

Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?

• Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
• Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
• Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
• Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14

When Do The 2026 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2026 NCAA FCS Playoffs will be Nov. 28.

The format includes 24 teams and five rounds of play – first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game. Everything through the semifinals will be played at the site of the participating schools.

Round 2 is set for Dec. 5, the quarterfinals will be held Dec. 11 (one game) and Dec. 12 (three games) and the semifinals will take place Dec. 19.

The 2026 FCS national championship will be determined Jan. 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Music City first hosted the title tilt in 2025 after 15 consecutive visits to Frisco, Texas.

Every game will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks. 

How Do The FCS Playoffs Work?

The 24 FCS teams that advance to the playoffs are situated into a single-elimination bracket.

The top 16 teams are seeded, with the first eight earning byes into the second round. Seeds 9-16 must play in the opening round of action, but they get to play host, as do the higher seeds in each game through the semifinals.

The two semifinal winners then make the trip to Nashville to play for the national championship.

In 2025, Montana State defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim the trophy. 

Since 2011, North Dakota State had been dominating the FCS landscape, winning 10 national titles, but the Bison have now moved to a bigger pasture – the FBS level as part of the Mountain West Conference.

Monmouth Football Highlights vs Towson | 2025 CAA Football

Watch the highlights from Monmouth’s 42-31 victory over Towson during the 2025 college football season.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

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Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege

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Don’t miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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